German aims to be back in power next May

WELSH Liberal Democrat leader Mike German says he aims to be back in government next May - even though his party's insistence on a change in the way councillors are elected would appear to rule out a deal with Labour.

WELSH Liberal Democrat leader Mike German says he aims to be back in government next May - even though his party's insistence on a change in the way councillors are elected would appear to rule out a deal with Labour.

In a New Year message, Mr German appears to hanker after another stint as Deputy First Minister - a post he held during the Lib-Lab coalition in the National Assembly's first term.

But Labour has said it would not contemplate introducing proportional representation for local government elections, a demand Mr German says would be the Liberal Democrats' first demand in any future coalition negotiations.

Equally, the prospect of a "rainbow" coalition including Plaid Cymru, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats has receded following recent disagreements between the opposition parties surrounding the Assembly Budget.

Liberal Democrat sources said Mr German still believed that everything was to play for, and that the composition of the post-May Assembly Government would be determined by the mathematics of the results.

On the issue of PR in local government, Labour's current rejection of the concept was seen as "a starting negotiating position".

In his New Year message, Mr German says, "If the most significant political event of 2006 has been getting greater powers for the Assembly, then the question for 2007 is simple - how best can we use them? And who will be in a position to use them?

"The forthcoming Welsh general election on May 3 dominates the political horizon. Widespread discontent with the Labour Party's directionless solo four years in the Assembly, means there are opportunities for all the opposition parties at this election.

"For the Welsh Liberal Democrats - already the second largest party in Westminster - we will seek to achieve the same status in the Assembly.

"From the start of 2007 to the first Thursday in May, my focus will be on telling everyone why they should be backing Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly candidates and why that would make a difference for Wales.

"After May, I will be living with the consequences of the decision of the people of Wales, because we stand at a turning point.

"My goal is to be in government next May - because that's where politicians can change things. In the first Assembly, by being in government, we were able to deliver over 100 Liberal Democrat policies, including investing in extra teachers and nurses, reducing class sizes and bringing back school milk.

"To do that, I will spend the next five months talking about a more efficient health service, better education opportunities for all, and real action to preserve our planet.

"I will travel the length and breadth of the country to tell people we are the party who will be putting patients first, and offering proposals for the highest quality healthcare when you need it.

"We will be prioritising education, by making sure young people have the best possible learning environment, with smaller class sizes, and improved school buildings.

"We have to get the message across to people that only the Welsh Liberal Democrats can deliver the step change we need in government.

"The people of Wales will decide which parties form a government next year. We will be letting them know that we have the ideas, and the drive. We want to be in the driving seat."